3 May 2016

New York/Rome – 28 April 2016 – When the first session of the Preparatory Committee for developing an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ PrepCom) opened at UN Headquarters in New York, the large plenary quickly filled to overflowing.

As seasoned Member State delegations and observers prepared to deliver statements, a group at the back eagerly awaited the welcome remarks from Chair H.E. Ambassador Eden Charles (Trinidad and Tobago). This group was following the PrepCom, as it’s called, as part of the two-week ABNJ Regional Leaders Program.

Some of the 2016 ABNJ Regional Leaders with organizers at the Opening of the Preparatory Committee established by General Assembly resolution 69/292: Development of an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Organized by the Global Ocean Forum and University of Delaware with FAO under the Common Oceans capacity project*, the ABNJ Regional Leaders Program supports the participation of regional and national leaders from developing countries in global ABNJ processes.

This year’s edition, from 21 March-2 April, included 34 candidates selected from 30 countries around the world and was hosted in the offices of the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea at UN headquarters in New York. The modular course aims to strengthen the capacity of leaders from developing countries and small island developing States (SIDS) at the regional and national levels to better address ABNJ resources and issues and to more effectively participate in global and regional ABNJ discussions.

Participants learned about a wide variety of related topics, from the legal and policy framework for managing ABNJ to capacity development to science tools and approaches – from recognized experts spanning international organizations, technical fields, regional authorities, academia, civil society and private sector. Exchanges on experiences, lessons learned and challenges provided an opportunity to enrich, deepen and broaden their understanding of related issues and processes.

Attending the PrepCom was a highlight of the course, allowing participants to see first-hand important global negotiations in action.

The two week course culminated with an exceptional chance to hold a Side Event during the PrepCom where participants presented Regional and National Perspectives on Area-Based Management and Capacity Development Needs in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ): Examples from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands Regions.

As a follow-up, graduates of both this year’s and the 2015 ABNJ Regional Leaders Program will be participating in the forthcoming workshop "Capacity Development to Improve the Management of Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ): Needs, Experiences, Options, and Opportunities" to be held on 18-21 May during the 2016 Blue Week & Investment Conference in St. George's, Grenada.

^{*The Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) Regional Leaders Program is a key activity of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/Global Ocean Forum (GOF) project on Strengthening Global Capacity to Effectively Manage Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction, part of the Common Oceans ABNJ Program funded by the GEF and coordinated by FAO, and involves a wide range of project partners and supporters.}